Swimming Solutions for Contact Lens Wearers

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It's chilly and rainy in New York today, making it seem like summer has instantly disappeared. But if you're lucky enough to live somewhere that's still warm and sunny—and you wear contact lenses—you might need some eye-care advice before heading to the pool. Dr. Michael Pier, director of professional relations, vision care, North America, at Bausch + Lomb, shared these tips with me:

â¢Always remove contacts before swimming. The chlorine in the pool is alkaline, which can strip away moisture from contact lenses and irritate your eyes. Water can also change the way a lens fits, says Dr. Pier.

â¢Wear goggles.They'll prevent eye irritation if you need to open your eyes under water. Since you won't be wearing your contacts or glasses, ask your eye doctor about prescription swim goggles to help you see.

â¢Flush your eyes after swimming. Calm eye irritation with cool, fresh water (not from the pool!), or reach for saline eye drops.